Removable reusable labels

ABSTRACT

A reusable label comprising a sheet with pressure sensitive undercoating, said undercoating being protected with separably attached backing paper which is extended somewhat beyond one end of the label to form a tab. Perforations through both label and backing paper and a slit in the backing paper tab are furnished to provide means of conveniently detaching separable portions of backing paper and/or label, whereby the label can be initially affixed as required and a portion thereof subsequently detached for reuse.

United States Patent [191 Crawley [111 3,822,492 [451 July 9,1974

1 REMOVABLE REUSABLE LABELS [76] Inventor: Thomas B. Crawley, 252Sherwood Rd., Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada 22 Filed: May 17, 1973 21Appl. No.: 361,285

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 17, 1973 Canada 168,961

[52] US. Cl. 40/2 [51] lnt.Cl ..A44c 3/00 [58] Field of Search 40/2, 22,125 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,139,377 12/1938 Mullet a1. .1 40/125 A X 2,755,576 7/1956 Golden 40/125 A X 2,845,728 8/1958Huber 40/2 R 2,893,144 7/1959 Cunningham 40/2 R Kest Cl mm]. 40/2 RWulldorf 40/2 R Primary Examiner-Jerome Schnall AssistantExaminer-Wenceslao J. Conteras Attorney, Agent, or Firm-lan Fincham [57]ABSTRACT A reusable label comprising a sheet withpressure sensitiveundercoating, said undercoating being protected with separably attachedbacking paper which is extended somewhat beyond one end of the label toform a tab. Perforations through both label and backing paper and a slitin the backing paper tab are furnished to provide means of convenientlydetaching separable portions of backing paper and/or label, whereby thelabel can be initially affixed as requiredand a portion thereofsubsequently detached for reuse.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures ing paper partially removed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates toimprovements to removable reusable labels. One form of a reusable labelimploys two or more superimposed sheets with pressure sensitive adhesiveapplied to one surface of each sheet, the sheets being separablyattached to each other. In this construction the upper face of eachlabel must have a high gloss or wax surface if separation of the labelsis to be achieved. This being the case, the union of the two labels isat best unreliable, particularly when exposed to the rigors of the mail.The insecurity of this form of attachment can be illustrated byobserving whatlittle effort is required to separate the backing paperfrom any pressure sensitive adhesive label.

In the present invention the reusable label consists of a single sheetof paper or other suitable material, one side of which is coatedWithpressure sensitive adhesive and protected with separable backingpaper. For initial use, backing paper along two sides of label isstripped off along perforations which penetrateboth label and backingpaper. The adhesive thus exposed provides the bond for securelyattaching the label to letter or package. Subsequent removal of thereusable portion of the label is achieved by detaching along said rowsof perforations.

DRAWINGS AND DESCRIPTION In drawings illustrating embodiments of theinvention,

FIG. I is'a front view of the label FIG. 2 is a view of the label withouter strips of back- FIG. 3 is view of label attached to letter as areturn address. I

FIG. 4 isa view of return address label partially re moved from letter.

FIG. 5 is a view of detached label with backing paper partially removed.

FIG. 6 is a view of detached label reused as a mailing address.

FIG. 7 is a view of label. with alternative tab design.

The label illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a sheet with pressuresensitive adhesive undercoating, said sheet being divided by two rows ofperforations 5, into central portion 1 and two outer strips 2. Backingpaper covers the adhesive coating of label and extends somewhat beyondone end to form tab 6. Perforations 5 which penetrate both label andbacking paper divide backing paper into central portion 4 and outerportions 3. Slit 7 is cut in tab 6 and extends in a slight arcimmediately beyond end of label, terminating at each row of perforations5. Slit 7 creates short tab 8 in that portion of backing paper undercentral removable section of label. Tab 8 has three functions asillustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. I

FIG. 2 shows backing paper partially removed from the two edge strips 2of label. This is best done by grasping tabs 6 and 8 and gently pullingin opposite directions. The backing paper tears ofi along perfora tions5 leaving central and edge portions 1 and 20f label still intact.Backing paper 4 also remains attached to central portion 1 of label toprevent adhesive engagement in this area. 3

FIG. 3 illustrates initial use of label affixed to letter 9 as a returnaddress. The label issecurely attached by adhesive along two edge strips2.

FIG. 4 illustrates detachment of reusable portion 1 of;

label from envelope 9. To perform this operation, backing paper tab 8 islifted, to initiate detachment of central portion of label together withitsassociated backing paper.

FIG. 5 illustrates central portion 1 of label after detachment fromenvelope, with backing paper partially stripped off. Here again tab 8proves useful in initiating removal of backing paper. This can. be afrustrating and exasperating exercise without a leading edge on ei;

ther label or backing paper to grasp. With the backing paper removed thelabel can be reused as required,

FIG. 6 illustrates the label being used as a mailing address on anenvelope.

FIG. 7 illustrates a label similar in every respect to FIG. 1 except forthe extended tab. In FIG. 7 the tab is simply a short extension of thebacking paper with perforation 5 jointly piercing the label and backingpa-.

per, and continuing to end of tab. Inthis design backing paper edgestrips 3 are detached individually rather than in one operation as isthe case previously described.

The labels as described herein could be manufactured in various formsnamely rolls, strips or packs. Rolls or strips wouldbc adaptable fortyping on individual addresses, whereas packs would be adaptable topreprinting. I

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A reusable label comprising a sheet, coated on one side with pressuresensitive adhesive, said adhesive being covered with separably attachedbacking paper, said sheet and backing paper being jointly piercedby tworows of perforations thereby dividing the sheet and backing paper into amajor central portion, bordered on each of two opposite sides by arelatively narrow strip, said backing paper being extended somewhatbeyond one end of sheet to form a generous tab, said tab beingslit in aslight are immediately beyond .end'of label to form a shallow tabextending beyond end of central portion of label, said slit terminatingat the ,end of each row of said perforations to effectively dividebacking paper into two separably portions, one cover-- ing the adhesiveon said outer strips and one covering the adhesive on central portion oflabel, saidtabs'being adapted for pulling in opposite directions for the:pur-

pose of simultaneously detaching the two outer strips of backing paperpreparatory to initial application of said label.

2. The re-usable label of claim 1, wherein saidsheet is adapted toreceive markings from a marking device.

. narrow strip, saidbacking paper being extended some- 3 4 what beyondone end of said sheet to form a generous the second of said rows ofperforations to the end of tab, said tab having two slits therein, oneof said slits exsaid tab, thereby dividing said tab into a major centraltending from one of said rows of perforations to the tab, and twomarginally located tabs. edge of said tab, the other of said slitsextending from

1. A reusable label comprising a sheet, coated on one side with pressuresensitive adhesive, said adhesive being covered with separably attachedbacking paper, said sheet and backing paper being jointly pierced by tworows of perforations thereby dividing the sheet and backing paper into amajor central portion, bordered on each of two opposite sides by arelatively narrow strip, said backing paper being extended somewhatbeyond one end of sheet to form a generous tab, said tab being slit in aslight arc immediately beyond end of label to form a shallow tabextending beyond end of central portion of label, said slit terminatingat the end of each row of said perforations to effectively dividebacking paper into two separably portions, one covering the adhesive onsaid outer strips and one covering the adhesive on central portion oflabel, said tabs being adapted for pulling in opposite directions forthe purpose of simultaneously detaching the two outer strips of backingpaper preparatory to initial application of said label.
 2. The re-usablelabel of claim 1, wherein said sheet is adapted to receive markings froma marking device.
 3. The re-usable label of claim 1, wherein said majorcentral portion is of a substantially rectangular configuration.
 4. Are-usable label comprising a sheet coated on one side withpressure-sensitive adhesive, said adhesive being covered with separablyattached backing paper, said sheet and backing paper being jointlypierced by two rows of perforations thereby dividing said sheet and saidbacking paper into a major central portion bordered on each of twoopposite sides by a relatively narrow strip, said backing paper beingextended somewhat beyond one end of said sheet to form a generous tab,said tab having two slits therein, one of said slits extending from oneof said rows of perforations to the edge of said tab, the other of saidslits extending from the second of said rows of perforations to the endof said tab, thereby dividing said tab into a major central tab, and twomarginally located tabs.